Disposition, metabolism, and toxicity of methyl tertiary butyl ether, an oxygenate for reformulated gasoline

Journal Article · Fri Apr 05 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/009841096161609· OSTI ID:387308

Hutcheon, D E; Hove, W ten; Boyle, J III ^[1]; Arnold, J D ^[2]

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1. UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical Schook, Newark, NJ (United States)
2. Arnold & Arnold, Inc., Kansas City, MO (United States)

Studies of the toxicology of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) were reviewed as a possible information base for evaluating the health effects of evaporative emissions from reformulated gasoline (RFG). Perirenal fat/blood MTBE concentration ratios ranged from 9.7 to 11.6 after 15 wk of intermittent exposure. During an oxyfuels program in Fairbanks, AK, blood levels of occupationally exposed workers were 0.2-31.5 {mu}g/L MTBE and 1.6 to 72.2 {mu}g/L TBA with a mean TBA:MTBE blood concentration ratio of 4.2. In patients who received MTBE by percutaneous, transhepatic puncture for the dissolution of cholesterol gallstones, concentrations of MTBE in fat tissue reached 60 and 300 {mu}g/g at a treatment time when mean blood MTBE was less than 20 {mu}g/ml. The results of laboratory and clinical studies indicate that metabolites of MTBE may contribute to the nephropathy, neoplasms, and other pathological changes associated with repeated exposure to MTBE in experimental animals. It is concluded that such studies can provide a well-defined database for quantitatitive safety comparisons and health risk-benefit analyses of MTBE and other oxygenates in RFG. 39 refs., 1 tab.

• OSTI ID: 387308
• Journal Information: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Journal Name: Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 47; ISSN 0098-4108; ISSN JTEHD6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ADIPOSE TISSUE
BUTYL ETHER
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
GASOLINE
INHALATION
MAN
METABOLISM
METHANOL
NEOPLASMS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PATIENTS
RATS
TOXICITY